Composer

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Lodewijk Mortelmans

Genre

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Keyboard

Style

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Keyboard

Average_duration

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4:15

Saïdjah's Lied is a composition by the Belgian composer Lodewijk Mortelmans. It was composed in 1911 and premiered in Antwerp on March 17, 1912. The piece is a song cycle consisting of four movements, each of which is based on a poem by the Dutch writer Eduard Douwes Dekker, who wrote under the pseudonym Multatuli. The first movement, "Saïdjah's Lied," is a setting of a poem from Multatuli's novel Max Havelaar. The poem tells the story of Saïdjah, a Javanese farmer who is forced to leave his village and his beloved fiancée, Adinda, to work on a plantation. The music is characterized by a simple, folk-like melody that is accompanied by a gentle, flowing piano part. The vocal line is expressive and lyrical, with a sense of longing and sadness that reflects Saïdjah's feelings of loss and separation. The second movement, "Adinda's Lied," is a setting of a poem that expresses Adinda's feelings of loneliness and longing for Saïdjah. The music is more introspective than the first movement, with a slower tempo and a more complex piano part. The vocal line is more ornate and expressive, with a sense of yearning and melancholy that reflects Adinda's emotional state. The third movement, "Saïdjah's Klacht," is a setting of a poem that expresses Saïdjah's anger and frustration at the injustice of his situation. The music is more dramatic than the previous movements, with a faster tempo and a more forceful piano part. The vocal line is more declamatory and passionate, with a sense of anger and defiance that reflects Saïdjah's desire for justice and freedom. The final movement, "Adinda's Antwoord," is a setting of a poem that expresses Adinda's response to Saïdjah's anger and frustration. The music is more hopeful than the previous movements, with a brighter, more optimistic melody and a more buoyant piano part. The vocal line is more joyful and exuberant, with a sense of hope and renewal that reflects Adinda's belief in the power of love to overcome adversity. Overall, Saïdjah's Lied is a powerful and emotionally charged work that reflects Mortelmans' skill as a composer and his deep understanding of the human condition. The piece has become a beloved part of the Belgian classical music repertoire and continues to be performed and admired by audiences around the world.

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